The CAIB set up a dramatic recreation of the incident in which it used a nitrogen gun to fire a piece of foam at ~500mph at a test panel. NASA was not happy with the idea of the experiment feeling it was a waste of time. There were audible gasps from the crowd of engineers when the foam punched a head-sized hole in the panel. Bingo.
Came here to make sure that this article was posted. It's an engaging and well written examination of the followup to the Columbia's loss. Thanks for linking to it!
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/11/columbia...